Priests of the Sofia Metropolis have expressed their support for Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel amid the conflict with Archimandrite Nikanor

Clergy of the Sofia Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church have officially expressed their support for Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, condemning the actions of Archimandrite Nikanor (Mishkov). According to the Greek publication Romfea.gr, the decision was made on July 30, 2026, during a regular meeting of clergy dedicated to issues of pastoral ministry.

In an official statement, the clergy expressed deep concern over the public attacks, slander, and offensive rhetoric that Archimandrite Nikanor, abbot of the Monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Gigintsi, has been spreading in the media and on social media for a long time. The priests emphasized that such behavior—including public accusations that the Patriarch is “serving Russian imperialism”—undermines church unity and canonical order.

“We, the priests of the Sofia Metropolis, consider it our duty not to remain silent when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and our spiritual shepherd are being ridiculed,” the document states. The clergy specifically emphasized that Archimandrite Nikanor, by calling the church a “model” and calling for the creation of a so-called “new people’s church,” has in fact set himself on the path to a schism, substituting political propaganda for pastoral ministry.

The text of the appeal contains an urgent request to church authorities to examine this matter with the utmost rigor and objectivity. The signatory clergy members call for their statement to be submitted as official evidence to the ecclesiastical court proceedings that have already been initiated against the archimandrite. According to the authors of the appeal, ecclesiastical punishment in this case should serve as “spiritual medicine” and a call to repentance, rather than an act of vengeance, in order to preserve the integrity and dignity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

As a reminder, the Sofia Metropolis of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church recently announced a 15-day suspension from priestly ministry for Archimandrite Nikanor, the abbot of the Tsernogor Monastery of “Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers.” The decision takes effect on July 29, 2026, in accordance with Decree No. 134 of His Holiness Daniel, Metropolitan of Sofia and Patriarch of Bulgaria.